托福阅读真题+题目+答案：Spanish Exploration of the Americas

托福阅读真题+题目+答案：Spanish Exploration of the Americas

The Spanish established the first European settlements in the Americas beginning in the Caribbean, and by 1600, extending throughout Central and South America. Thousands of Spaniards flocked to the Americas seeking wealth and status. The most famous of these Spanish adventurers is also the most controversial, Christopher Columbus, who, though Italian himself, explored on behalf of the Spanish monarchs.

1. The phrase “flocked to” in paragraph 1 is closest in meaning to

A. Moved to

B. Searched for

C. Managed to

D. Desired to

The history of Spanish exploration begins with the history of Spain itself. During the fifteenth century, Spain hoped to gain advantage over its rival, Portugal. The marriage of Ferdinand of Aragon and Isabella of Castile in 1469 unified Catholic Spain and began the process of building a nation that could compete for worldwide power. Since the 700s, much of Spain had been under Islamic rule, and King Ferdinand II and Queen Isabella I were determined to defeat the Muslims in Granada, the last Islamic stronghold in Spain. In 1492, they completed the centuries-long Christian conquest of the Spanish territory. This marked another step forward in the process of making Spain a European power, and Ferdinand and Isabella were now ready to look further afield.

2. Which of the following is true?

A. Spain was looking to defeat its rival, Portugal, during the 1500s

B. Ferdinand of Aragon and Isabella of Castile united Spain through marriage

C. In 1492, the Spanish territory had been defeated by Muslim conquest

D. Spain became a major European power once they took over Portugal

Their goals were to expand Catholicism and to gain a commercial advantage over Portugal. To those ends, Ferdinand and Isabella sponsored extensive Atlantic exploration. Spain’s most famous explorer, Christopher Columbus, was actually from Italy. He believed that using calculations based on other mariners’ journeys, he could chart a westward route to India, which could be used to expand European trade and spread Christianity​. Starting in 1485, he approached Portuguese, English, and Spanish monarchs, asking for ships and funding to explore this westward route. All those he petitioned—including Ferdinand and Isabella at first—rebuffed him; their nautical experts all concurred that Columbus’ estimates of the width of the Atlantic Ocean were far too low. However, after three years of pleas, and, more importantly, the completion of the war with the Muslims, Ferdinand and Isabella agreed to finance Columbus’ expedition in 1492, supplying him with three ships. The Spanish monarchs knew that Portuguese mariners had reached the southern tip of Africa and sailed the Indian Ocean. They understood that the Portuguese would soon reach Asia, and in this competitive race to reach the Far East, the Spanish rulers decided to act.

3. Which of the following best expresses the essential information in the highlighted sentence in paragraph 3? Incorrect choices change the meaning in important ways or leave out essential information.

A. Columbus thought he could sail to India to increase European trade and spread Christianity

B. After landing in India, Columbus planned on exploring India using other explorers’charts

C. Columbus had calculated a route to India based on other mariners’calculations

D. Columbus felt his expedition would open new trade routes

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